Brown County Sheriff Karl Groesch says Malachi Phillip Smith died after the accident late Saturday night near Mount Sterling. The town is about 70 miles northwest of Springfield.

The sheriff said Anthony T. Smith drove over a bridge south of town around 11 p.m. Saturday. But rising water swept the car into the creek after. Up to 6 inches of rain fell in the area late that night.

Authorities say the father tried to save his son, but couldn't find him.

Groesch said the Versailles boy was dead when his body was found Sunday morning about a half a mile from the bridge.